Internet of things

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Drawing representing the Internet of things (IoT).

The Internet of Things (IoT) is the network of physical devices, vehicles, home
appliances, and other items embedded with electronics, software, sensors,
actuators, and connectivity which enables these things to connect and exchange
data,[1][2][3][4][5] creating opportunities for more direct integration of the physical world into computer-based systems, resulting in efficiency improvements, economic
benefits, and reduced human exertions.[6][7][8][9]

The number of IoT devices increased 31% year-over-year to 8.4 billion in 2017[10] and
it is estimated that there will be 30 billion devices by 2020.[11] The global market value of IoT is projected to reach $7.1 trillion by 2020.[12]

IoT involves extending internet connectivity beyond standard devices, such as

desktops, laptops, smartphones and tablets, to any range of traditionally dumb or
non-internet-enabled physical devices and everyday objects. Embedded with
technology, these devices can communicate and interact over the internet, and
they can be remotely monitored and controlled.

Applications[edit]

A Nest learning thermostat reporting on energy usage and local weather.

The extensive set of applications for IoT devices[31] is often divided into consumer, enterprise (business), and infrastructure
spaces.[32][33]

Consumer applications[edit]
A growing portion of IoT devices are created for consumer use, including connected vehicles,
home automation/smart home, wearable technology, connected health, and appliances with
remote monitoring capabilities.[34]
Smart home[edit]
IoT devices are a part of the larger concept of home automation, which can include lighting,
heating and air conditioning, media and security systems.[35][36] Long term benefits could include energy savings by
automatically ensuring lights and electronics are turned off.
Manufacturing[edit]
The IoT can realize the seamless integration of various manufacturing devices equipped with
sensing, identification, processing, communication, actuation, and networking capabilities.
Based on such a highly integrated smart cyberphysical space, it opens the door to create whole
new business and market opportunities for manufacturing.[42] Network control and management of
manufacturing equipment, asset and situation management, or manufacturing process control
bring the IoT within the realm of industrial applications and smart manufacturing as well. [43] The IoT
intelligent systems enable rapid manufacturing of new products, dynamic response to product demands, and real-time optimization of manufacturing production and

supply chain networks, by networking machinery, sensors and control systems together.[38]
Digital control systems to automate process controls, operator tools and service information
systems to optimize plant safety and security are within the purview of the IoT. [37] But it also extends itself to
asset management via
predictive maintenance, statistical evaluation, and measurements to maximize
reliability. [44] Smart industrial management systems can also be integrated with the
Smart Grid, thereby enabling real-time
energy optimization. Measurements, automated controls, plant optimization, health and safety
management, and other functions are provided by a large number of networked sensors. [38]
The term industrial Internet of things (IIoT) is often encountered in the manufacturing
industries, referring to the industrial subset of the IoT. IIoT in manufacturing could generate so
much business value that it will eventually lead to the fourth industrial revolution, so the so-
called Industry 4.0. It is estimated that in the future, successful companies will be able to
increase their revenue through Internet of things by creating new business models and improve
productivity, exploit analytics for innovation, and transform workforce.[45]

While connectivity and data acquisition are imperative for IIoT, they should not be the purpose,
rather the foundation and path to something bigger. Among all the technologies, predictive
maintenance is probably a relatively "easier win" since it is applicable to existing assets and
management systems. The objective of intelligent maintenance systems is to reduce
unexpected downtime and increase productivity. And to realize that alone would generate
around up to 30% over the total maintenance costs.[45] Industrial big data analytics will play a
vital role in manufacturing asset predictive maintenance, although that is not the only
capability of industrial big data.[47][48] Cyber-physical systems (CPS) is the core technology of
industrial big data and it will be an interface between human and the cyber world. Cyber-
physical systems can be designed by following the 5C (connection, conversion, cyber, cognition,
configuration) architecture,[46] and it will transform the collected data into actionable information, and eventually interfere with the physical assets to
optimize processes.

An IoT-enabled intelligent system of such cases was proposed in 2001 and later demonstrated
in 2014 by the National Science Foundation Industry/University Collaborative Research Center
for Intelligent Maintenance Systems (IMS) at the University of Cincinnati on a band saw
machine in IMTS 2014 in Chicago.[49][50][51] Band saw machines are not necessarily expensive, but
the band saw belt expenses are enormous since they degrade much faster. However, without
sensing and intelligent analytics, it can be only determined by experience when the band saw
belt will actually break. The developed prognostics system will be able to recognize and monitor
the degradation of band saw belts even if the condition is changing, advising users when is the
best time to replace band saw. This will significantly improve user experience and operator
safety and ultimately save on costs.[51] Please see intelligent maintenance system for more reference.